India’s 16-man squad for the first two Tests of the five-match series against England included two specialist wicketkeepers, KS Bharat and the uncapped Dhruv Jurel.

They also had KL Rahul, who kept wicket in both Test matches in India’s tour of South Africa a month ago. However, ahead of the England series, Indian coach Rahul Dravid confirmed that they would not be looking at his namesake as wicketkeeper for the rest of the Test series.

That Bharat was the forerunner became evident when he was picked for India A’s first unofficial ‘Test’ against the England Lions and Jurel was left out of the XI. Bharat removed whatever doubt was still left by making 116 not out to help India A save the match.

England won the toss and opted to bat in the Test match, and the Indian spinners – R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel – got the occasional ball to turn sharply and bounce awkwardly even in the first two sessions.

Bharat kept wicket soundly despite copping a blow on the shoulder when he encountered a throw from Jadeja as Jonny Bairstow sprinted his way back to the crease.

KS Bharat has been extraordinary behind the stumps today. 👌 pic.twitter.com/iYRYFVvovW

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 25, 2024

He got his first dismissal of the Test series when Axar Patel spun one away from Ben Foakes and took the outside edge. The second catch, of Rehan Ahmed, came off Jasprit Bumrah: the ball jagged back into Rehan, took the inside edge, and dipped sharply, and Bharat completed an excellent low catch.

On air, Kevin Pietersen was generous in Bharat’s praise: “How good Bharat has been behind the stumps! Hasn’t he been amazing?”

“He’s been really good,” agreed Dinesh Karthik, a former wicketkeeper himself. “He’s been very good against fast bowlers and more so against spinners too … Couple of quick down-the-leg takes, got high hands as well.”

However, Karthik reminded that it was “going to be a lot more challenging the second innings”.